Latest news with #BrunoLage
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea forward calls for Benfica transfer
Chelsea forward Joao Felix has expressed his interest in a return to Benfica this summer. Felix is weighing up his options after returning to Chelsea from a loan spell at AC Milan last season. He has not formed part of the club's squad at the FIFA Club Word Cup as he explores his options in the transfer market. Advertisement The Portugal international only rejoined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £45m 12 months ago but was loaned to Milan in January after struggling for minutes. An unsuccessful spell in Italy followed, as Felix scored just twice in 15 Serie A appearances. It continued an underwhelming period for Felix, who has failed to live up to expectations since leaving Benfica for Atletico Madrid in a £113m deal in 2019. The forward has now raised the prospect of a return to Benfica, the club where he burst onto the scene as a teenager. After emerging from the club's academy, Felix exploded during the 2018/19 campaign. He scored 20 goals in 43 appearances as Benfica won the Primeira Liga title, earning him the 2019 Golden Boy award. Advertisement That summer, he completed a record-breaking transfer to Madrid. After a tough time on the continent in recent seasons, Felix has opened the door for a potential return to his first club. Bruno Lage, who gave Felix his chance in the first team during a stint as caretaker manager of the club, is now in the head coach position at Benfica. 'Seeing Bruno Lage the coach, who I know and was important for my career, earns points in my decision over future and I see with good eyes returning to Benfica. 'And it is, maybe, where I am most incline,' Felix told Cm Jornal. Read – The highest transfer fees for uncapped English players See more – Cole Palmer lauds 'amazing' Chelsea wonderkid ahead of transfer Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orkun Kokcu eyeing Arne Slot reunion at Liverpool as Benfica star snubs Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas interest and aims for Premier League move
Kokcu not interested in moving to Turkey Turkish midfielder wants to reunite with Arne Slot at Liverpool Had a verbal spat with head coach Bruno Lage WHAT HAPPENED? According to A Bola, the 2022-23 Eredivisie title winner wants to reunite with his former Feyenoord boss Slot at Liverpool. The Turkish international is reportedly not on good terms with manager Bruno Lage and wants to part ways with the Portuguese club. The midfielder is aware of interest from Turkey but believes a move to the Super Lig at this stage of his career will hurt his growth. Advertisement THE BIGGER PICTURE THE BIGGER PICTURE The midfielder was said to have been angered by Lage's decision to substitute him in the 61st minute of Benfica's fixture against New Zealand's Auckland City in the Club World Cup. The player engaged in a verbal spat with the manager on the sidelines as they both pointed fingers at each other. The outburst has sparked reports that Kokcu wants to leave. TELL ME MORE Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas are all interested in bringing the 24-year-old to Turkey. However, having previously played under Slot and winning the Eredivisie under his management, Kokcu is interested in moving to Anfield. He is tied to Benfica until June 30, 2028, and has a release clause of €150 million (£129m/$177m). Advertisement WHAT NEXT FOR BENFICA? WHAT NEXT FOR BENFICA? Benfica were knocked out of the Club World Cup by Chelsea at the round of 16 stage. The Portuguese club will next face rivals Sporting CP in Supertaca final.
Evening Standard
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Chelsea FC progress into Club World Cup quarter-finals despite storm suspension
Bruno Lage's Benfica, meanwhile, had limited efforts on the Chelsea goal, with Robert Sanchez hardly tested. There was one cross-shot from Frederik Aursnes in the second half that the Spaniard misjudged, expecting a simple delivery from the makeshift right-back, which he had stepped off his line for. The former Brighton 'keeper had to scramble back to claw the ball off his line, but that is as close as the Liga Portugal side came to notching a goal.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Felix a 'special player'
Benfica manager Bruno Lage has described Chelsea's Joao Felix as a "special player" amid links of a move back to his boyhood club for the forward. The Portugal international was not selected by manager Enzo Maresca to play in the Club World Cup and is expected to be sold this summer. Advertisement Felix, who spent last season on loan at AC Milan, has struggled since leaving Benfica for Atletico Madrid at the age of 18 for £113m - the fourth-most expensive transfer at the time. The 25-year-old attended one of Benfica's group games in Miami last week and when asked about the prospect of Felix returning, Lage said: "We have talked about Joao Felix [coming back] since he left Benfica. "He is a special player for Benfica, for me, and he is on his holidays. He is maybe asleep now because he is on the other side of the world. It's important to be focused on the players who are going to play against Chelsea." Lage also said the player workload issues of competing in the Club World Cup are "very hard" and praised Pedro Neto, who he managed when in charge of Wolves and has two goals in two matches at the tournament. Advertisement "For me, he is one of the best wingers in the world. They are very good, but they also know that we are a good team. I expect an excellent game. "When I look to my players, they give me the reasons to believe that it's 50-50. So, we go with that ambition [to win]."
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chelsea preparation feels rushed as Benfica talk up challenges
Chelsea's news conference with Enzo Maresca - in addition to chats with three players - to preview the Club World Cup last-16 match against Benfica was all a bit Blues flew in late from their training base on the south beach in Miami having pre-booked it in the hope they would win the a 3-1 defeat by Flamengo meant Chelsea finished second, despite victories in the other two Group D matches against Los Angeles FC and ES has led to a Champions League-style matchday - the Blues flying into Charlotte for just one night, with the preview activity done at 20:00 local time (the equivalent of 01:00 BST) and then playing the game at the Bank of America Stadium. Chelsea were previously based in Philadelphia, where they played two matches. They would return there for their quarter-final should they beat Benfica on Saturday, but they will not switch their base back to the they will stay in Miami before potentially basing themselves in New York for the semi-final and final if they go deep into the is the best way for Chelsea to manage a challenging post-season tournament in significant heat, as staff just attempt to get their players through each round and see how far it takes Benfica manager Bruno Lage was talking up the challenges of the tournament, from the heat to the travel and the workload on his players after a long season, and how it will impact their 2025-26 campaign. All the European clubs involved are trying their best to cope with these challenges and are maybe not the best versions of themselves.
